Interest had intensified after a Food and Environmental Hygiene Department official cautioned last week that there would be limited places for flower farmers at the fair next year to create more space for social distancing.

The auction of stalls at Victoria Park last week fetched a total of more than HK$4.8 million, with all 175 wet-goods stalls let out after bids ranging from HK$5,440 to HK$69,000 that put the average stall price at HK$27,556.

Following the auction of stalls at fair venues in Hong Kong and the islands, those for fairs in Kowloon started yesterday.

That saw bidding prices for 70 stalls at Sham Shui Po's Fa Hui Park ranging from the reserve price of HK$2,950 to HK$11,000.

The bidding atmosphere was intense and stalls were snapped up rapidly. A florist who secured two stalls said prices were much higher and competition just as fierce as in the past.

Three other fairs in Kowloon are at the Cheung Sha Wan playground, Wong Tai Sin's Morse Park and Kwun Tong Recreation Ground with a total of 140 stalls with reserve price ranges ranging from HK$420 to HK$1,820.

Bidding is today and tomorrow. Auctions of 527 New Territories stalls at nine fairs start on Friday.